Daily Archives: October 11, 2010

Sash windows have been a traditional feature of period houses in Britain for over 200 years and can tell you a lot about the history of a property.

With an increasing interest in conserving the historic craftsmanship of these windows, people are now keen to renovate the designs to preserve the aesthetic appeal sash windows embody.

Ventrolla are specialists in the renovation of sash windows and are able to work with a variety of styles from different periods. So how do you identify the type of windows you have and the era they originate from?

Well, there are three styles that were developed over three eras.

Firstly, the single-hung sash is the oldest design dating back to Georgian times and has only one section that moves with a single pane of glass. The Georgian’s were responsible for developing this style into the double-hung sash which was then incorporated into the architectural features of the Victorian and Edwardian age. Both sections of this style window open and close and have many variations in which the panes are placed; six-over six, four-over-four, nine-over-nine and six-over-two.

In contrast to both these windows is the horizontal sliding sash which has two sashes that slide sideways rather than up and down. This design is far less common than the vertical sashes and does not belong to a period of history as such. However, if you live in Yorkshire, this could be the type of window that sits in your house as it is thought this is where the design originated from.

If you have been unable to relate your windows to any of the above three styles, this may be that your windows are a variation on these standard designs. During each era, architects developed their own interpretations of the single-hung and double- hung sash window which led to additional forms.

The Georgians particularly favoured the six-over-six design of the double-hung sash window and introduced smaller panes being separated by a number of glazing bars to the style. In contrast, some Victorian’s preferred one large pane of glass and chose to feature their larger sashes on the ground floor and smaller sashes in upper storeys. However the Edwardian era adopted a multi-pane approach to their sashes by using multiple panes on the upper sash and a single pane of glass on the lower sash.

Whether you have a standard style of sash windows or one of the many variations, Ventrolla can offer you a bespoke Sash Window Renovation service to preserve the history of your windows.

Not only does this service enable you to maintain your windows, but helps improve their functionality by using a unique Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System to eradicate draughts, rattles and reduce noise.